I find shop vacs aren't the best for picking up hair from carpet, but are awesome for things like spilled cat litter, paper turned into confetti, and finely shredded dog toys. I have a shop vac for some kinds of messes, and a regular vacuum for regular hair and dirt on floors. If it helps, I have three large dogs, and three cats. The shop vac is a Rigid, because it was on sale and the other vac is a Shark because it was a model that was well rater for pet hair in reviews. Both work well. I used to have a robot vac too, but it died after several years of heavy use. It actually did an amazing job on pet hair on carpet, and I want to get another one. Though I want even more to get rid of the carpet and have hard floors through the house. Answer from Alceasummer on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/pets › does anyone with pets use a shop vac inside the house?
r/Pets on Reddit: Does anyone with pets use a shop vac inside the house?
January 9, 2024 -

Just out of curiosity. Between the animal hair the the high ceilings in our house, vacuuming is my biggest pain in the ass. I was thinking of getting a shop vac so I can have something easy to dump and is on wheels. And a longish cord. Am I crazy?

Top answer
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I find shop vacs aren't the best for picking up hair from carpet, but are awesome for things like spilled cat litter, paper turned into confetti, and finely shredded dog toys. I have a shop vac for some kinds of messes, and a regular vacuum for regular hair and dirt on floors. If it helps, I have three large dogs, and three cats. The shop vac is a Rigid, because it was on sale and the other vac is a Shark because it was a model that was well rater for pet hair in reviews. Both work well. I used to have a robot vac too, but it died after several years of heavy use. It actually did an amazing job on pet hair on carpet, and I want to get another one. Though I want even more to get rid of the carpet and have hard floors through the house.
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I have both but I find my regular vacuum is best imo. Experience- 6+ dogs/3cats, currently 2dogs/5cats/bun. With the bun- the shop vac doesn’t clog as easily but I sweep then vac, I have a Dyson. I used to say Pet BISSELL all day, had to replace mine and I no longer recommend them, tried 3 different pet ones😩. I personally recommend a good vacuum and shampooer (for accidents by humans and pets). For vacuums- things I look for- no bag (gets expensive replacing imo), hose should come from the bottom (if it comes from the top, it falls and it hurts when it falls on you), attachments (should have an extension, then a wand that comes to almost a point, another should have a roller for pet hair on fabric), easily unclog (trust me, with lots of pet hair, debris brought inside, this can be a big issue), easy clean roller (rollers are where things can begin to clog, or it will just stop picking up, ability to clean without 10+ screws is so nice! Because you will have to clean it!), easy change filters- along with affordable replacements! I think I covered everything I’ve dealt with, if I remember more, I’ll reply.
People also ask

What is a handheld vacuum?

A handheld vacuum is the smaller, cordless cousin of larger upright vacuums, cordless stick vacuums and shop vacs that you use at home.

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cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best handheld vacuums of 2026, tested by editors | CNN Underscored
Can I use a handheld vacuum for my entire home?

You can, yes, but it’s not recommended. Handheld vacuums are perfect for smaller cleanup jobs and aren’t intended for bigger tasks. There’s certainly nothing stopping someone from doing so, however; it just will take far longer than if you used a normal stick or upright vacuum.

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cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best handheld vacuums of 2026, tested by editors | CNN Underscored
How long is the battery life on a handheld vacuum?

Handheld vacuums have limited run times — usually only 10 to 20 minutes — so they can be impractical for use in large spaces or for long cleaning jobs.

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cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best handheld vacuums of 2026, tested by editors | CNN Underscored
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Apex Auto Pros
apexautopros.com › car interior cleaning › tested 2025: best handheld vacuums for pet hair
Tested 2025: Best Handheld Vacuums For Pet Hair - Apex Auto Pros
October 30, 2025 - After handling a huge amount of pet hair over the years, these are the handheld vacuums that have earned a permanent spot in our detailing arsenal. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet ... In our shop, this is the handheld vacuum ...
Address   9220 Provost Rd NW, 98383, Silverdale
(4.9)
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Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › appliances › laundry & cleaning › vacuum cleaners › best vacuums for pet hair, tested and reviewed
Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, Tested and Reviewed via @ConsumerReports
July 13, 2020 - The best vacuums for pet hair include upright, canister, robotic, stick, and handheld vacuums from Dyson, iRobot, Miele, Shark, and other major brands.
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TruckersReport
thetruckersreport.com › forums › good & bad trucking companies › experienced truckers' advice › pet hair vacuum
Pet hair vacuum | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum | #1 CDL Truck Driver Message Board
Many "beater bar" vacuums now use a fan to drive the rotating brush. They don't work worth a darn. I have seen a blue copycat from China at Walmart. It costs about $30. Also, rubber gloves for washing dishes works very well sweeping up dog hair. ... Dyson Hands down better than a shop vac for pet hair.
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Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com › home › product reviews › the 6 best small shop vacs for cleaning up major messes, from hurricane floodwater to diy dust
The 6 Best Small Shop Vacs of 2025 - Best Wet/Dry Vacuums
August 14, 2025 - Generally speaking, cartridge filters are the more thorough choice. They filter out fine dust particles, such as drywall dust, better than cloth. Some are even HEPA-rated, which means they can remove pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold spores.
Find elsewhere
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CNN
cnn.com › reviews
The best handheld vacuums of 2026, tested by editors | CNN Underscored
2 weeks ago - The Black+Decker Dustbuster 16-Volt Max is the easiest to use, charge and empty of all the handheld vacuums we tested. We liked its large-capacity canister and built-in attachments that made it convenient and versatile enough for all our small ...
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Amazon
amazon.ca › Portable-Shop-Vac › s
Amazon.ca: Portable Shop Vac
Check each product page for other buying options. Price and other details may vary based on product size and colour · VS100C MessMaster Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum, 1 Gallon Capacity, Corded, Handheld, Perfect for Pets & Cars, Self-Cleaning, Ultra-Powerful Suction, Blue (Canadian Edition) · Shark ...
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Amazon
amazon.ca › Handheld-Vacuums-Pet-Hair › s
Amazon.ca: Pet Hair - Handheld Vacuums / Vacuums: Home & Kitchen
Handheld Vacuums · Customer Reviews · 4 Stars & Up & Up · Price · Deals & Discounts · All Discounts · Today's Deals · Amps · Up to 6.9 amp · 7.0 to 8.9 amp · 9.0 to 10.9 amp · 11.0 amp & above · Features · Clear · Bagless · Brush Roll · Compact · Corded · Cordless · Cyclonic · Dust Cup · HEPA Filtration · Lightweight · Pet Hair · Portable ·
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Amazon
amazon.ca › best-handheld-vacuum-pet-hair › s
Amazon.ca: Best Handheld Vacuum For Pet Hair
Check each product page for other buying options. Price and other details may vary based on product size and colour · BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets, Cordless, AdvancedClean+, Gray (HHVK515JP07) · Shark Cyclone Handheld Vacuum - HyperVelocity Suction, Lightweight 1.6 lbs, ...
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Amazon
amazon.ca › small-shop-vacuum › s
Amazon.ca: Small Shop Vacuum
Portable · Cordless · Lightweight · Bagged · Bagless · Commercial · Compact · Corded · Cyclonic · Dual Motor · Dust Cup · HEPA Filtration · Heavy Duty · Pet Hair · Washable Filter See more · Included Components · Crevice Tool · Accessory Kit ·
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TechGearLab
techgearlab.com › floor cleaning › vacuum cleaner reviews
4 Best Handheld Vacuums of 2026 | Lab Tested & Ranked
Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus
And the scrub brush's bristle design ... dust or pet hair. The battery life isn't the best, but the vacuum itself is lightweight and easy to maneuver, which helps save time and energy. The Crevice tool of the HHVI315JO42 performed well in the car. Credit: Katie Brown · The Worx 20v Cordless Cube vacuum deserves a mention here. This is a handy mini shop vac-style ... If you're tired of dragging out a bulky vacuum for small messes, a handheld vacuum could be the game-changer your cleaning routine needs. These compact...
Rating: 4.5 ​
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › best overall cordless vacuum for pet hair?
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Best Overall Cordless Vacuum for Pet Hair?
January 31, 2025 -

Hello! 👋🏼 What would you say is the overall best cordless vacuum for dog hair on hardwood floors? We have no carpet or area rugs but we have 4 big dogs (that shed a lot). Just looking for something that won’t easily clog. I don’t mind having to empty multiple times, we are just trying to avoid clogging! (Run time also isn’t a huge issue as this would be just for the downstairs). Thanks in advance!

*edit: i am open to all price ranges! (if it’s an investment, that’s fine!) although ~ $400 - $600 would be the most realistic.

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Good Sam Community
community.goodsam.com › good sam community › pet owners › pet owners
Shop vac for dog hair | Good Sam Community - 1905127
I tried it without the bristles and she let me know pretty quick she didn't like that. The Furminator pulls the hair loose and the vacuum sucks it up. No hair sticking to everything. It was always a pain to clear the Furminator because the hair stuck to our hands and the rest floated to where ever.
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NYTimes
nytimes.com › appliances › vacuum cleaners › what’s the best vacuum for pet hair?
What’s the Best Vacuum for Pet Hair? | Reviews by Wirecutter
November 10, 2025 - ... The battery-powered Ryobi 18V One+ HP Advanced Stick Vacuum Kit is reasonably priced, and it offered above-average performance in our cordless stick vacuum tests. Its powerful all-terrain cleaner head agitates and lifts hair and debris from ...
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RTINGS
rtings.com › home › vacuum › best
The 3 Best Handheld Vacuums For Pet Hair of 2026 - RTINGS.com
November 19, 2025 - The best hand vacuum for pet hair we've tested is the Shark WANDVAC. This cordless handheld vacuum does a fantastic job of handling pet hair on hard surfaces like countertops and shelves.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › best-shop-vacs-4151284
We Tested 25 Shop Vacs, and These Are the Best for Quick Cleanup
August 13, 2025 - If you're looking for a household vacuum that can trap dust and fine particles, we recommend checking out our story of best vacuums for allergies or best canister vacuums, which are all designed with advanced filtration systems and often come in bagged models, sealing allergens, pet hair, and dust inside.
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Walmart
walmart.ca › appliances › vacuums & floor care
Vacuums for Pet Hair: Shop Top Brands at Walmart Canada
$749.99Roborock Q10 S5+ Robot Vacuum Cleaner & Mop with Self-Empty Dock | 10,000 Pa Suction | Pet Hair, Carpet & Hard Floor